Buffer.



v No. 864,985. PATENTED SEPI.-- 3, 1907. v

A. P. OLSON.

BUFFER.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 19, 1906.

ANDREW I. OLSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUFFER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Application filed December 19, 1906. Serial No. 348,552.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW P. OLsoN, oi Chicago, in the State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buffers,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to buffers for automobile vehicles or the like; andthe objects oi my improvements are, first, to provide a buffer-barhaving rearwardly curved ends adapted to shield the iront wheels of thevehicle; second to provide spring or yielding connections or attachingthe buffer-bar to the frame of the vehicle; and, third, to affordfacilities for the proper compensating movements of, the buffer-barbackward and endwise in action as when in collision with an opposingbody striking it at any point along its length either squarely oroblique. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in Which- Figure l is a perspective view showing abuffer containing my invention as applied to the side members of theirameof an automobile as ordinarily constructed, portions of the frontend only of such side members being shown. Fig. 2 is a comparativelyenlarged view, showing an end portion of one of the side members of theframe and one of the spring-connections in side elevation. Fig. 3 is adetail showing, in top or plan perspective, a fastening-piece forattaching one end of the spring to the frame side member. Fig. 4 is adetail showing a plan or top view o a fasteningpiece or attaching theother end of the spring to the buffer-bar.

In the drawings the numeral 5 designates the side members ofthe vehicleframe which are shown in fragment only. Ordinarily these are arranged atthe sides of and under the box or bed of the vehicle (not shown) andextended forward between the iront wheels, (also not shown).

The numeral 6 designates the buffer-springs consist- Vning of a loop orcoil of tempered steel wire or rod having one end -Gv extended from thecoil rearwardly and preferably bent downwardly, and the other end 6bextended forwardly.

Fastening-pieces 7 each provided with a lug 7*L and bolt-holes for bolts7b, are made to serve the purpose of attaching the rear ends of thebuffer-springs to the rame members 5. The lugs are perforated orprovided with eyes from the top side downwardly and preferably clearthrough as shown by dotted lines at 7c (Fig. 2) the top at the irontside being grooved as shown at '7d (Fig. 3) from the eyeto the irontedge so that when the downwardly-bent rear end of the buffer-spring baris inserted in the eye the adjacent horizontal part will fall into thegroove and orm a laterally rigid connection of the spring to thevehicle.

The fastening-piece 8 for attaching the front end of the spring to thebuffer-bar 9 consists oi a ring adapted to slip over the bar tightlywhen forced o1 shrunk on, so as to hold it in position infront ofthevehicle wheels. The rings have a thickened or extended side 8n in whichholes or eyes are made for forcibly inserting the front ends of thebuffer-springs under sufficient pressure to keep them in place.

The fastening-pieces '7 being secured to the frame pieces 5, the partsof the bent down rear ends of the springs are secured in the eyesthereof by means of set screws 'c or pins 71, the parts 6L being sprungoutwardly to stand clear oi the central loop or coil. The iront parts 6"are forced into the eyes oi the fastening pieces S or otherwise securedtherein to form a laterally rigid connection between the springs andbuffer-bar.

The buffer bar 9 is of the requisite length to span the roadwaytraversed by the vehicle, and preferably has its ends, which projectoutside the buffer springs G, curved as illustrated in the drawings, thecurves extending backward, or towards the iront ends of the side membersoi the irame, the purpose being to shunt or deflect from the path of thevehicle any light opposing vehicle or object coming in contact with thecurved part.

The buffer constructed and connected to the vehicle frame as shown anddescribed operates as follows. Being brought into contact with aresistingbody striking squarely at or near the mid-length of thebufferbar its yield backwardly is substantially equal at both ends ofthe bar. If the shock is oblique to the line oi the bar, a slightendwise movement oi the bar is also afforded, and when relieved, thesprings will cause the bar to resume its normal position relatively tothe vehicle. The endwise movement of the bar compensates for lateralmovement or sliding sidewise of the wheels oi the vehicle upon theground. If the blow is at or near one end of the bar the end receivingit will yield most, the spring at the opposite end yielding in suchmanner as to permit the bar to turn slightly at that end, and also toaid in compensating lateral strain upon the wheels if the blow isoblique.

The principle of vthe invention is embodied in the buiier-bar and meansprovided for maintaining it in position in iront of the vehicle wheelsand affording the yielding movements specified of the bar, relatively tothe vehicle when a shock or blow is given squarely or obliquely to theAfront and upon or against the bar as when in collision with a resistingbody.

What I claim is:

1. In au apparatus of the class described, the combination with a pairof coil springs of a buffer-bar, a pair of attaching-pieces forsecuringl the rear ends of the spring to the frame of the vehicle, and apair of attaching-pieces for securing the buffer-bar to the front endsof the springs.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair ofcoil springs having parts of the coiled tensions on one side laterallyi' d 110 lille vehicle l'mme l() a lmllerfhai' provided with reanvalrdlycui-ved ends4 and means for attaching; the lm1Tei'ba1 in the extensionsen the opposite side 01 the sp1-ings,

ANDRE W 1r. Ol iSl'N.

Witnesses ROBERT VAN SANDS, INGA E. OLSON.

